Elbow connector puller

ABSTRACT

The puller comprises relatively rotatable inner and outer cylindrical sleeves with cutaway portions which, in one rotated position of the sleeves, present a slot for receiving a lead portion of an elbow connector. Means are provided on the puller for engaging a hotstick pulling rod. Upon relative rotation of the cylindrical sleeves by means of the pulling rod with the lead portion of an elbow connector within the slot, the slot is substantially closed about the connector portion and the puller grips the elbow connector so that upon axial movement of the puller the elbow connector can be connected or disconnected to and from a terminal stud.

United States Patent [1 1 Lyons et al.

[ Mar. 18, 1975 ELBOW CONNECTOR PULLER [75] Inventors: Ellis E. Lyons, Birmingham, Ala.; William F. Turner, Carol Stream,

21 Appl. No.: 477,559

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 320,029, Jan. 2, 1973,

abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 29/283, 29/278, 294/19 R [51] Int. Cl B25b 27/02 [58] Field of Search 29/200 H, 203 H, 203 HM, 29/24'4, 280, 282, 283, 278; 24/221 A, 221 R, 230; 285/179, 180; 294/19 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,452,404 7/1969 Metz 24/221 R l2 l0 3 [I 38 33 46 3,627,367 12/1971 Levy ..29/244 Primary ExaminerA1 Lawrence Smith Assistant Exanziner-Harold P. Smith, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. B. Patti; H. J. Rathbun [57] ABSTRACT The puller comprises relatively rotatable inner and outer cylindrical sleeves with cutaway portions which, in one rotated position of the sleeves, present a slot for receiving a lead portion of an elbow connector. Means are provided on the puller for engaging a hotstick pulling rod. Upon relative rotation of the cylindrical sleeves by means of the pulling rod with the lead portion of an elbow connector within the slot, the slot is substantially closed about the connector portion and the puller grips the elbow connector so that upon axial movement of the puller the elbow connector can be connected or disconnected to and from a terminal stud.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAR 1 8 W 3; 8'7 1 .056

SHEEI 1 pg 3 I PATENTED HAR 1 8 I975 SHEET 2 [I 3 PATENTEI] HAR 1 81975 HEET 3 0F 3 EOE ELBOW CONNECTOR PULLER This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 320,029, filed Jan. 2, 1973, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved puller for electrical elbow connectors used to connect and disconnect energized power leads to and from terminal studs in high voltage applications.

Many underground distribution system designs utilize pad mount or below-ground vault transformers. Both types utilize elbow connectors at the primary circuit terminals. Utility safety rules usually require that all connections to the primary be disconnected prior to working on the transformer or the secondary circuit supplied by the transformer ahead of the first disconnect switch. Factors such as close proximity to ground and questionable insulation prohibit contact with the elbow connector by the linemans hand; therefore an insulated pulling rod, i.e., a hotstick, attachable in some manner to the elbow connector, is required in order to provide the necessary electrical clearances.

Most elbow connectors are provided with a rubber or wire eye which may be hooked directly to a pulling rod during the connecting or disconnecting operation of .zt'he elbow connector. In many instances, however,

mere attachment to the rubber or wire eye has been found to be undesireable because it results in an insecure connection and does not provide the lineman with adequate control over the elbow connector. Consequently, a need exists for a device which, when used with a pulling rod, provides a more positive attachment of the elbow connector.

A further prior device used for manipulating elbow connectors clamps the connector on its sides and relies on friction to hold the elbow connector securely while it is being connected or disconnected. A more positive gripping action is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An improved puller in accordance with this invention has relatively rotatable inner and outer cylindrical sleeves, the inner cylindrical sleeve having an exposed eye at a closed end. The sleeves have respective cutaway portions which, when aligned, define an elongated open-ended slot. A stop means limits relative rotation of the sleeves between two positions. Upon relative rotation of the sleeves from one of the two positions to the other, a wall portion of the inner sleeve forms an interfering barrier which obstructs the open end of the slot and enables the puller to grip the lead portion of an electrical elbow connector.

The puller is designed for use with a pulling rod of the shotgun type. Protuberances provided on a rear wall of the outer sleeve of the puller cooperate with recesses in a head portion of the pulling rod to permit positive control of the puller by the pulling rod. As will become apparent, the puller may also be used with a pulling rod not having a shotgun feature.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved elbow connector puller which can be positively connected to an elbow connector by manipulation of a puller rod.

A further object is to provide an elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable sleeves each having cutaway portions which, when aligned, enable the puller to be fitted around the lead portion of an elbow connector and which can be moved out of alignment by rotation of the inner sleeve of the puller to cause the puller to firmly grip the connector. A still further object is to provide an improved elbow connector puller comprising relative rotatable telescoped cylindrical sleeves which can be used with a number of different types of elbow connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a puller constructed in accordance with the invention and shown with a connector-receiving slot open;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right or rear end view of the puller of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an outer cylindrical sleeve of the puller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of an inner cylindrical sleeve of the puller of FIG. 1 rotated substantially from its position in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the puller of FIG. 1 in relation to a transformer, an elbow connector, and a puller rod; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the puller of FIG. 1 connected to an elbow connector and puller rod.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The puller shown in the drawings is identified by the reference number 9 and comprises telescoped and relatively rotatable outer and inner cylindrical sleeves 10 and 12, respectively, and a stop means 14 for limiting relative longitudinal and rotational movement of the sleeves l0 and 12. The inner sleeve 12 has an eye member 16 extending rearwardly therefrom. The sleeves l0 and 12 may be formed of cast metal and coated with a relatively thick layer of insulation such as polyvinyl chloride or the sleeves may be molded from suitable insulating material.

The outer cylindrical sleeve 10 has a longitudinal cutaway portion or slot 18 extending from a front end 20 thereof and terminating at a narrow rearward slot portion 22, a circumferential slot 24 forming part of the stop means 14, and an opening 26 in a rear end wall 28. Additionally, the outer cylindrical sleeve 10 has a plurality of radial protuberances 30 on the rear end wall 28, and longitudinally spaced inner bearing portions 31 and 32.

The inner cylindrical sleeve 12 has a longitudinal cutaway portion or slot 34 extending from a front end 35 thereof and communicating with a lateral slot portion 37, a pair of spaced annular ribs 38 near the frontend 35, and an inner thickened portion 39 near a rear end wall 40. The lateral slot 37 constitutes a transverse cutaway portion which extends substantially normal to and intersects the axially directed longitudinal cutaway portion 34. The eye member 16 is preferably integral with the inner cylindrical sleeve 12 and extends outwardly from the rear end wall 40.

The rear wall 40 of the inner sleeve 12 is in juxtaposed relation to the rear wall 28 of the outer sleeve 10 and the eye member 16 has a loop portion 42 at the outer end of a shaft portion 44 which protrudes through the opening 26 in the rear wall 28 of the outer sleeve 10. The outer cylindrical surface of the inner sleeve 12 bears against the bearing portions 31 and 32 of the outer sleeve 10, and the front end 20 of the outer sleeve 12 is positioned rearwardly of the rearward one of the ribs 38.

Relative longitudinal movement of the sleeves l and "12 is prevented by the engagement of a spacer 46 of the stop means 14 with the side walls of the slot 24, and relative rotational movement of the sleeves and 12 is restricted by selective engagement of the spacer 46 with respective end walls 48 and 49 of the slot 24. The spacer 46 is held in place by a screw 50 threaded into an opening in the thickened portion 39. It should be noted from FIG. 6 that, depending upon tolerances, the rear end wall 28 and the rib 38 can also constitute means for preventing rearward longitudinal movement of the inner sleeve 12 with respect to the outer sleeve 10.

Clockwise (as viewed in FIG. 2) rotation of the inner sleeve 12 with respect to the outer sleeve 10 until the spacer 46 abuts the end wall 48 of the circumferential slot 24 placed slots 18 and 34 in registry or coincident resulting in an open-ended slot of maximum size as shown in FIG. 1. Counter-clockwise rotation of the inner sleeve 12 with respect to the outer sleeve 10 until the spacer 46 abuts the end wall 49 of the circumferential slot 24 results in rotation of the slot 34 out of registry with the slot 18, so that the open end of the slot 18 is obstructed by a wall portion 52 of the sleeve 12 between the slot portion 37 and the front end 35. The annular ribs 38 serve to strengthen the wall portion 52.

The sleeves l0 and 12 and their slots 18 and 34 are proportional and sized so that the puller 9 can be connected to a large number of different elbow connectors presently in use. Further, the indent formed by the slot portions 22 of the outer sleeve 10 and the outer wall of the inner sleeve 12 permits the puller 9 to clear protuberances present on some elbow connectors.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the puller 9 is designed for use with a hot stick pulling rod 56 of the so-called shotgun type comprising a head ferrule 58 and a closeable hook member 60, the ferrule 58 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 62 for respectively receiving the protuberances 30 on the outer sleeve 10.

In operation, a lineman first aligns the outer sleeve 10 and the inner sleeve 12 so that the spacer 46 abuts the end wall 48 of the circumferential slot 24 thus placing the slots 18 and 34 in registry resulting in a combined slot of maximum size. The hook 60 of the pulling rod ,56 is engaged with the loop portion 42 of the eye mem- ""ber 16, and the head ferrule 58 of the pulling rod 56 is moved axially of the rod 56 in a direction toward the puller 9 resulting in an engagement between the slots 62 and the radial protuberances 30, thereby preventing rotation or release of the puller. The puller 9 is placed over an elbow connector 66 0f the type having a lower lead portion 68 and electrically connectible to a stud 70 for completing a primary connection to a distribution transformer 71, with the slot of maximum size as defined by the aligned slots 18 and 34 receiving the lower lead portion 68 of the connector 66.

The head ferrule 58 of the pulling rod 56 is then moved axially in a direction away from the elbow connector 66 disengaging the slots 62 from the protuberances 30. The pulling rod 56 by means of the hook 60 engaged with the loop portion 42 is then rotated to rotate the inner sleeve 12 clockwise, as viewed in. FIG. 2, until the spacer 46 abuts the end wall 49 of the circumferential slot 24, thereby positioning the wall portion 52 of the inner sleeve 12 in front of the lower lead portion 68 of the elbow connector 66 as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the puller 9 securely grips the elbow connector 66. The slots 62 of the head ferrule 58 and the radial protuberances 30 of the outer sleeve 10 are re-engaged as previously described, thereby interlocking the pulling rod 56 and the puller 9.

The elbow connector 66 is disconnected from the terminal stud 70 by moving the shotgun pulling rod 56 in a direction axially away from the terminal stud 70. The disconnected elbow connector 66 may then be placed on a dummy connector (not shown) carried on a parking stand 72. After work on the distribution transformer is completed, the elbow connector is reconnected to the terminal stud 70 of the distribution transformer 71 by an operation which is the reverse of the disconnection procedure just described.

I claim:

1. An electrical elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves which are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, and respective axially directed cutaway portions extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends there of which cutaway portions are in alignment, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, for receiving the lead end of an elbow connector, one of the sleeves including a transverse cutaway portion extending substantially normal to and intersecting its axially directed cutaway portion and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are in the other of said relative positions, stop means for limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two turned positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an eye member secured to, and extending axially rearwardly from the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening in the outer sleeve.

2. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one sleeve is the inner cylindrical sleeve.

3. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the forward end of said one sleeve is disposed axially forwardly of the forward end of the other sleeve.

4. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means includes a circumferential slot in the cylindrical wall of one of the sleeves and a stop member secured to the cylindrical wall of the other sleeve and disposed within the slot.

5. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the outer sleeve has a pair of bearing surfaces of re duced diameter spaced axially therealong in engagement with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall of the inner sleeve.

6. An electrical elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves having respective side walls which sleeves are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, the sleeves having respective axially directed cutaway portions in their side walls extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends of the sleeves which cutaway portions are in alignment, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, for receiving the lead end of an elbow connector, the cutaway portion of one of the sleeves being coincident with the cutaway portion of the other sleeve, said one sleeve including a transverse cutaway portion in its side wall adjacent to the side wall of said other sleeve and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are in the other of said relative positions, stop means for limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two turned positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an eye member secured to and extending axially rearwardly from the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening in the outer sleeve.

7. An electrical elbow connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connecting means also includes a plurality of radial protuberances circumferentially spaced on the rearward side of the rear wall of the outer sleeve and circumferentially spaced about the central open mg. l.

8. An electricalelbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves which 'are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, the sleeves having respective axially directed cutaway portions extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends thereof, which cutaway portions, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, are in radial alignment and define a slot open at the forward end of the sleeves and having generally parallel side edges extending rearwardly of the sleeves to a rearward edge of the slot whereat the rearward end of the cutaway portions are fully coincident so that the lead end of an elbow connector can be received in the slot and positioned against the rearward edge of the slot while the sleeves remain in said one of said relative positions, one of the sleeves including a single transverse cutaway portion extending substantially normal to and intersecting its axially directed cutaway portion and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are rotated to the other of said relative positions, means for restricting relative longitudinal movement of the sleeves and limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an attachment means secured to, and extending axially rearwardly from, the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening at the rearward end of the outer'sleeve.

9. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 8 wherein said one sleeve is the inner cylindrical sleeve.

10. An electrical elbow connector as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connecting means also includes a plurality of radial protuberances at the rearward end of the outer sleeve and circumferentially spaced about the 

1. An electrical elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves which are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, and respective axially directed cutaway portions extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends there of which cutaway portions are in alignment, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, for receiving the lead end of an elbow connector, one of the sleeves including a transverse cutaway portion extending substantially normal to and intersecting its axially directed cutaway portion and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are in the other of said relative positions, stop means for limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two turned positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an eye member secured to, and extending axially rearwardly from the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening in the outer sleeve.
 2. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one sleeve is the inner cylindrical sleeve.
 3. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the forward end of said one sleeve is disposed axially forwardly of the forward end of the other sleeve.
 4. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stop means includes a circumferential slot in the cylindrical wall of one of the sleeves and a stop member secured to the cylindrical wall of the other sleeve and disposed within the slot.
 5. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the outer sleeve has a pair of bearing surfaces of reduced diameter spaced axially therealong in engagement with the outer surface of the cylindrical wall of the inner sleeve.
 6. An electrical elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves having respective side walls which sleeves are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, the sleeves having respective axially directed cutaway portions in their side walls extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends of the sleeves which cutaway portions are in alignment, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, for receiving the lead end of an elbow connector, the cutaway portion of one of the sleeves being coincident with the cutaway portion of the other sleeve, said one sleeve including a transverse cutaway portion in its side wall adjacent to the side wall of said other sleeve and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are in the other of said relative positions, stop means for limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two turned positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an eye member secured to and extending axially rearwardly from the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening in the outer sleeve.
 7. An electrical elbow connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein the connecting means also includes a plurality of radial protuberances circumferentially spaced on the rearward side of the rear wall of the outer sleeve and circumferentially spaced about the central opening.
 8. An electrical elbow connector puller comprising inner and outer telescoped cylindrical sleeves which are relatively rotatable about a common axis of the sleeves between two relative positions, the sleeves having respective rear end walls, the end wall of the outer sleeve having a central opening, the sleeves having respective axially directed cutaway portions extending inwardly from respective adjacent and forward ends thereof, which cutaway portions, when the sleeves are in one of said relative positions, are in radial alignment and define a slot open at the forward end of the sleeves and having generally parallel side edges extending rearwardly of the sleeves to a rearward edge of the slot whereat the rearward end of the cutaway portions are fully coincident so that the lead end of an elbow connector can be received in the slot and positioned against the rearward edge of the slot while the sleeves remain in said one of said relative positions, one of the sleeves including a single transverse cutaway portion extending substantially normal to and intersecting its axially directed cutaway portion and defining an adjacent wall portion between the transverse cutaway portion and the forward end of said one sleeve, the wall portion providing an interfering barrier at the open forward end of the cutaway portion of the other sleeve when the sleeves are rotated to the other of said relative positions, means for restricting relative longitudinal movement of the sleeves and limiting relative rotation of the sleeves between the two positions, and means for connecting the puller to a pulling rod including an attachment means secured to, and extending axially rearwardly from, the rear wall of the inner sleeve through the central opening at the rearward end of the outer sleeve.
 9. An electrical elbow connector puller as claimed in claim 8 wherein said one sleeve is the inner cylindrical sleeve.
 10. An electrical elbow connector as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connecting means also includes a plurality of radial protuberances at the rearward end of the outer sleeve and circumferentially spaced about the central opening. 